June 10, 2014 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
June 10, 2014
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Watts; Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht, Council Member Gregory, Council
Member Hawkins, Council Member Roden, and Council Member Ryan
ABSENT: Council Member Johnson
1. Work Session Reports
A. ID 14-0227 - Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding City of Denton innovation
initiatives including suggested project ideas from the City’s 2014 Leadership Excellence and
Enhancement Program (LEEP).
City Manager Campbell stated that this was a city-wide effort to involve employees on how tasks
were done in the city and how to do them more efficiently.
Carla Romine-Haggmark, Director of Human Services, stated that over the past year, the City
had engaged in a number of activities to encourage innovation, improve efficiency, and promote
effectiveness in the organization. The first program was the Employee Innovation Program
designed to encourage the submission of ideas by employees which could be used to improve
city operations. This program offered incentives and recognition to encourage staff to suggest
improvements which could have a meaningful impact on improving a program, services and/or
process in order to create a new value for the community. The second program was the Lean
Government management model that worked to ensure that services were provided in the most
efficient and economical way and that waste was minimized or eliminated. The third program,
the Leadership Excellence and Enhancement Program (LEEP) was partnered with the University
of North Texas to implement an on-going leadership development program. The purpose of this
program was to provide a formal program for developing leadership and management
competencies in employees and to provide a project task group to examine specific issues facing
the City and consider alternative and innovative ways to solve challenges.
Council Member Roden asked if the Innovation Program was different from the LEEP group.
Romine-Haggmark replied correct.
Council Member Roden stated that anyone in City could enter into the Innovation Program.
Romine-Haggmark replied correct but directors and above would not get incentives.
Pamela England, Engineering and Real Estate, presented the "Destination Denton?" program.
The issue for the program involved right-of-way maintenance in terms of neglected or
unmaintained right-of-way; who was the responsible party for the maintenance; frequency of
maintenance; inadequate standards and lack of collaboration. The project approach included
assessing the issue, indentifying resources, defining project scope and providing solutions.
Desired project outcomes included viable options, funding mechanisms, clean and attractive
entryways, and commercial corridors.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 10, 2014
Page 2
Council discussed whether there was proactive "Adopt a Spot" in Denton, and the mowing
schedule for public rights-of-way.
Vernell Dooley, Police Department, presented the “Catching Fire: The Spark to Ignite
Organizational Excellence” program. He stated that the discussion would center of the Strategic
Plan and Project Focus, appraisal versus development, and scope and deliverables. He reviewed
Key Focus Area 1 – Organizational Excellence- and the objectives associated with that Focus
Area. The difference between appraisal and development in employees was noted. Keys to
success of such a program involved making it simple, making it a collaborative process,
emphasizing accountability and ownership and being executive champions.
Council discussed whether a new evaluation process would be required, where the City was in
the cultural aspect of the program, what Council could do to encourage innovation and what did
Council do to stifle it. Additional discussions center on the parameters of the programs, the
partnering with UNT, and whether the goals were internal or external for improved service.
Council thanked all of the employees for their vision and the proposals presented.
B. ID 14-0223 Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding Ethics matters impacting
municipal elected officials, including Ethics provisions unique to the City of Denton.
City Attorney Burgess presented information on Ethics matters. She reviewed provisions of law
relative to ethics, conflict of interest provisions, misuse of official information, gifts to public
servants, bribery, abuse of official capacity, Council discussion on ethics of appointing board and
commission members, employment at various institutions, and an ethic ordinance versus an
ethics resolution.
Council Member Roden suggested that the Ethics Committee could help clarify the pathway for
expressing an ethical problem including what the public could do.
C. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from
the City Council or the public with specific factual information or recitation of
policy, or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming
meeting AND Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, provide
reports about items of community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to
include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information
regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official,
public employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or
sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or
community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body
that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body
or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an
imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that has
arisen after the posting of the agenda.
Council did not have any items.
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 10, 2014
Page 3
Following the completion of the 2nd Tuesday Session, the City Council convene in a Closed
Meeting at 5:18 p.m. to consider specific items listed below under the Closed Meeting section of
this agenda.
1. Closed Meeting:
A. ID 14-0214 Deliberations regarding Real Property - Under Texas Government Code
Section 551.072; Consultation with Attorneys - Under Texas Government Code
Section 551.071. Discuss, deliberate, and receive information from staff and provide
staff with direction pertaining to the acquisition of real property interests located in
the David Hough Survey, Abstract Number 646, located generally in the 3900 block
of Quailcreek Road, located in the City of Denton, Denton County, Texas.
Consultation with the City’s attorneys regarding legal issues associated with the
acquisition or condemnation of the real property interests referenced above where a
public discussion of these legal matters would conflict with the duty of the City’s
attorneys to the City of Denton and the Denton City Council under the Texas
Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, or would
jeopardize the City’s legal position in any administrative proceeding or potential
litigation. (Mayhill Road Widening and Improvements Project & Municipal Landfill:
Parcel M139 - Robert Donnelly)
B. ID 14-0219 Deliberations regarding Real Property - Under Texas Government Code
Section 551.072; Consultation with Attorneys - Under Texas Government Code
Section 551.071. Discuss, deliberate, and receive information from staff and provide
staff with direction pertaining to the potential purchase of certain real property
interests located in the M.E.P. & P.R.R. Survey, Abstract No. 927, City of Denton,
Denton County, Texas, and generally located generally on the west line of North
Loop 288, north of Paisley Street. Consultation with the City’s attorneys regarding
legal issues associated with the potential acquisition of the real property described
above where a public discussion of these legal matters would conflict with the duty
of the City’s attorneys to the City of Denton and the Denton City Council under the
Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, or
would jeopardize the City’s legal position in any administrative proceeding or
potential litigation. (Denton Municipal Electric 69kV Spencer to Denton North
Interchange Transmission Line Upgrade Project: Parcel P21 & P22 - Singing Oaks
Church of Christ) [ID14-0220]
C. ID 14-0263 Deliberations regarding Real Property - Under Texas Government Code,
Section 551.072; and Consultation with Attorneys - Under Texas Government Code,
Section 551.071. Discuss, deliberate, and receive information from staff and provide
staff with direction pertaining to the potential purchase of certain real property
interests located in the 100 and in the 300 block of East McKinney Street, City of
Denton, Denton County, Texas. Consultation with the City’s attorneys regarding
legal issues associated with the potential acquisition of the real property interests
described above where a public discussion of these legal matters would conflict with
the duty of the City’s attorneys to the City of Denton and the Denton City Council
under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 10, 2014
Page 4
Texas, or would jeopardize the City’s legal position in any administrative proceeding
or potential litigation.
D. ID 14-0264 Deliberations regarding Real Property - Under Texas Government Code,
Section 551.072; Deliberations regarding Consultation with the City Attorney - Under
Texas Government Code, Section 551.071; Deliberations regarding Economic
Development Negotiations - Under Texas Government Code, Section 551.087.
Discuss, deliberate, and receive information from staff and provide staff with
direction pertaining to the sale of real property interests located in the 200 block of
West McKinney Street, in the City of Denton, Denton, Texas. Receive a report and
hold a discussion regarding legal and economic development issues regarding
economic development incentives for a business prospect in the Downtown TIF. This
discussion shall include commercial and financial information the City Council may
receive from the business owners which the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand
in or near the territory of the City, and with which the City Council is conducting
economic development negotiations, including the offer of financial or other
incentives. Also hold a discussion with the City’s attorneys on the referenced topic
where the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary
Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the
provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government
Code.
Following the completion of the Closed Meeting, the Council convened in a Special Called
Session to consider the following:
Ordinance No. 2014-170
ID 14-0220 Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas
A.
authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Easement Purchase
Agreement (therein so called), as attached to the ordinance and made a part thereof
as Attachment 1, by and between Singing Oaks Church of Christ of Denton, a Texas
Nonprofit Corporation (the "Owner"), and the City of Denton (the "City"), regarding
the sale by Owner and purchase by the City of two Electric Utility Easements
encumbering a 3.5624 and a 2.0203 acre tract of land, and a Temporary Construction
Easement encumbering a 1.1283 acre tract of land (the "Property Interests"), being
generally situated in the M.E.P. & P.R.R. Survey, Abstract No. 927, City of Denton,
Denton County, Texas more particularly described in Exhibits "A-1", "A-2", and "A-
3", and Depicted in Exhibits "B-1", "B-2", and "B-3", respectively; the electric
Utility Easements to be used and utilized for the public use of expansion,
construction, maintenance, augmentation, operation, and improvement of Electric
Transmission and Distribution lines, facilities, and structures, and the Temporary
Construction Easement to be used and utilized for the purpose of access, staging of
materials and equipment, construction and grading activities relating to the DME
Expansion project (therein the "DME Expansion Project"), for the purchase price of
Seven Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($725,000.00),
authorizing the expenditure of funds therefor; and providing an effective date.
(Denton Municipal Electric 69kV Spencer to Denton North Interchange
Transmission Line Upgrade Project: Parcel P21 & P22 - Singing Oaks Church of
Christ)
City of Denton City Council Minutes
June 10, 2014
Page 5
Council Member Gregory motioned, Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht seconded to adopt the
ordinance. On roll call vote, Mayor Watts "aye", Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht "aye", Council
Member Gregory "aye", Council Member Roden “aye”, and Council Member Ryan “aye”.
Motion carried unanimously.
Ordinance No. 2014-171
B. ID 14-0265 Consider adoption of an ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his
designee to execute a Contract of Sale by and between Dr. Edward F. Wolski, as
owner, and the City of Denton, Texas, as buyer, to acquire fee simple to a 10.070-
acre tract located in the J.S. Collard Survey, Abstract No. 297, in the City of Denton,
Denton County, Texas, generally located north of Riney Road and east of Bonnie
Brae Drive, for the public use of expansion, construction, maintenance, operation,
and improvement of electric transmission and distribution lines, facilities, and
structures, as well as substations, for the purchase price of One Million Two
Hundred Fifty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Three Dollars and Twenty
Cents ($1,258,923.20), and other consideration, as prescribed in the Contract of Sale
as described in the ordinance as attached as Exhibit One; authorizing the expenditure
of funds therefor; and providing an effective date.
Council Member Roden motioned, Council Member Hawkins seconded to adopt the ordinance.
On roll call vote, Mayor Watts "aye", Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht "aye", Council Member
Gregory "aye", Council Member Roden “aye”, Council Member Hawkins “aye” and Council
Member Ryan “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution No. R2014-024
C. ID 14-0266 Consider approval of a resolution confirming the appointment of Ross
Chadwick as Interim Fire Chief of the City of Denton Fire Department; and
declaring an effective date.
Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht motioned, Council Member Roden seconded to approve the
resolution. On roll call vote, Mayor Watts "aye", Mayor Pro Tem Engelbrecht "aye", Council
Member Gregory "aye", Council Member Roden “aye”, Council Member Hawkins “aye” and
Council Member Ryan “aye”. Motion carried unanimously.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
_______________________________
CHRIS WATTS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
_______________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS